Mother and Daughter Collaboration on a Black Carved Jar

It is not unusual for family members to work together when making pottery. Men often gather clay for the women of the house and often assist in firing pottery for them. Female family members often assist each other in preparation of clay, molding pottery, polishing and even decorating the pottery. Mostly the buyer is not aware who assisted in the creation of an item because only a single name appears on the finished work.

Occasionally, members who work together will co-sign the finished items. That is the case with this jar. Mary Cain (1916-2010) was a daughter of Christina Naranjo (1892-1980) and it is most likely that Mary greatly assisted her mom with this jar. Christina was 89 when she passed away in 1980 so it is likely that she needed assistance in polishing pottery as it is a laborious affair. Mary Cain was 95 when she passed away in 2010 but would have been considerably younger at the time this jar was made. The jar is co-signed with the names of both mother and daughter.

The jar is stone polished from top to bottom and an Avanyu (water serpent) is outlined by a carved depression in the clay.

Condition: this Black Carved Santa Clara Jar with Avanyu is in very good condition

Provenance: from the collection of a family from Atlanta, Georgia, which purchased it from Ray’s Indian Originals in Atlanta in 1990.